bad news

**billkilpatrick** · Feb-12-2009, 5:22am

... not so much "bad" as daunting. once read an interview with someone who had just finished a novel about an eccentric, absolutely brilliant chess player. being a player himself, he said that what usually happens is someone starts out by beating their older brothers or sisters; moves on to conquering their mother or father ... joins a chess club; beats everyone in the local pub; starts winning games in local competition, moves through progressively higher levels of play and eventually on to national competition, where - at some point - he runs into an enormously broad, incredibly high rock face of super-human ability and skill ... another league altogether - of mt. everest proportions.

i do the best i can but this is way beyond anything i'll ever be able to do - really intimidating stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN4HFaOPMy0

<--- ps - i like red!

**Miked** · Feb-12-2009, 6:39am

Evan Marshall is an exceptionally talented player. I wouldn't necessarily say that his playing is intimidating; I just listen with my jaw dropped in total amazement.

When I heard this piece on Tone Poets I thought he must be doing some type of finger-picking technique. How else could he have the tremelo and melody going simultaneously? Just amazing how he can come off the downstroke and work the tremelo. I never would have guessed that he's playing this with one pick.

Thanks for the link!

**Boy Howdy** · Feb-12-2009, 6:58am

Oh man... that's it... I'm cutting my fingers off! ;-)

**MikeEdgerton** · Feb-12-2009, 7:28am

Evan is a member of the cafe and his work comes up now and then. If you scroll through these threads you may find a few more clips. This thread contains a bit more. Finally, check out the Cafe MP3 page under the Classical section and look for anything by Evan Marshall.

**Bob Andress** · Feb-12-2009, 7:50am

- Sure, but can Evan play the harmonica at the same time?

WOW! What a true Ode to Joy that is.
It doesn't have to be intimidating. People like Evan may raise the bar but that just gives guys like me more to shoot for, a greater goal. Perhaps it even teaches us that we haven't yet seen the limits of what this great instrument can do if we take a "no-limits" approach when playing.

Thank you Evan.

**opie wan** · Feb-12-2009, 7:54am

Obviously great material. Very well done. Very solid technique. I'd love to sit down and here him play for an hour or so!!

**Bertram Henze** · Feb-12-2009, 8:05am

Time to start another discussion about planting the pinky and its limitations...

Arguments, anyone?

Bertram

**Bruce Evans** · Feb-12-2009, 8:12am

Yeah, sure. But can he chop?

I'm guessing he can. Very well, too.

**viv** · Feb-12-2009, 8:29am

Originally Posted by Boy Howdy

Oh man... that's it... I'm cutting my fingers off! ;-)

......me too.

somehow it didn't seem the pinky issue was much of an issue for him.....

really a lovely arrangement. can't wait for my 10 year old to hear this...she'll have a fit cuz she loves her some beethoven, and some vivaldi, and some handel.....

**abuteague** · Feb-12-2009, 8:48am

I'll take him on in a chess match.

**TonyP** · Feb-12-2009, 9:55am

One of the many hard things about playing an instrument, is NOT making it into a competition. I came from guitar back in the 80's, so I had some background. But was playing a whole different genre and instrument. So being a nuB in some ways, and not being in others was tough in itself.

Then Evan's first album came out, and I think one of the guys in the band I was in turned me on to it. Wow, I didn't that was even possible, and then to find out he would play the same coffee house we would play....total terror. The feeling was I was not worthy. Then at the same time I started going to Bluegrass festivals, and there was this 10yr kid wandering around named Chris Thile. It's one thing to hear the recording, but quite another to see them in the flesh.

I would still not be able to even have my mando out of the case if they were around, but at least I could stand around and listen to them play and not feel like I should burn my mando right then.

It does get better. But one of the things I read helped me turn the corner. I think it was an interview with Peter Rowan who said if you're going to be a gun slinger, there's always going to be a better one out there sooner or later.

So I've always just tried to do my best and let the feeling of competition go, and not let my ease of intimidation get the best of me.

**Ken Olmstead** · Feb-12-2009, 10:07am

Evan is amazing! I have been listening to him for many years and find him inspirational. The "duo" style of playing is a challange but I bet Evan can teach it to most anyone and he does offer online lessons that I am considering trying. Now executing at that level is a hole 'nother story!!

The right hand strokes are very common in the four string banjo world and the left hand arrangements are similar also. Interestingly on the banjo, the right hand is completely free (no pinkys or other fingers down) when doing full 4 string tremelo. Then for the complex duo style and usually single string tremelo, it is standard to allow the middle, ring and pinky finger to glide on the head of the banjo for control. It is perfectly accepted in that world and to pull off that style cleanly, I can't imagine it being done otherwise. My new Stealth with have a finger rest and I intend to use it! This is the direction I wish to take my playing and I have a pretty good head start with banjo history!!!

**Tim2723** · Feb-12-2009, 10:09am

Originally Posted by Slim_Pickins

- Sure, but can Evan play the harmonica at the same time?

If you can play the mandolin you can be a folk musician. If you play the mandolin and harmonica at the same time you can be a folk legend. But go that one extra step of strapping cymbals between your knees and suddenly you're a geek act.

**Patrick Hull** · Feb-12-2009, 10:27am

I believe I've seen that before, and it is amazing. Great playing, beautiful arrangement, and beautiful song. But, I had the same thought as one of the previous posters....Gasp! Is he planting his pinkie? Must be an optical illusion....End of discussion for me (I'm an incurable pinkie planter).

**allenhopkins** · Feb-12-2009, 10:27am

So why is someone playing the mandolin extremely well, with a fascinating overall concept and superior technique, "bad news"?

I love it. If I never can approach that level of virtuosity, so what? I get great satisfaction out of playing and performing at the level of which I am capable.

Back in 1963 or '64, I went to Club 47 in Cambridge to see this guy I'd heard about, Doc Watson, on what may have been his first Northeast tour. I was astounded at what he was able to do with the guitar. I can still recall the thrill I felt when he played Nashville Blues, Deep River Blues and Black Mountain Rag. Forty-five years of steady playing on several instruments later, I can't come close to what he did then. Doesn't make me want to amputate digits or sell my 00-42.

That people play beautifully and expand the frontiers of their instruments, I consider good news. I can enjoy and appreciate them, and still strum my chords and pick my melodies and feel positive about all the talent there is in the world.

**SternART** · Feb-12-2009, 11:07am

Originally Posted by Tim2723

If you can play the mandolin you can be a folk musician. If you play the mandolin and harmonica at the same time you can be a folk legend. But go that one extra step of strapping cymbals between your knees and suddenly you're a geek act.

No........then you are moving into into Niles Hokkanen's territory.

**Wesley** · Feb-12-2009, 12:19pm

Ah - Does anyone have the tab for that?

Because if not mistaken he hit a note that was a little bit on the sharp side. Listen again - it was note # 2,487,325 or so. About halfway through.

**Patrick Sylvest** · Feb-12-2009, 12:38pm

It's interesting that he ties his strap to the headstock. I thought that was why Scrolls were invented. He plays nice anyway.

**Jim MacDaniel** · Feb-12-2009, 12:50pm

I've always found it amazing that Evan can A) think in terms of both the lead and accompaniment parts at the same time, and B) then get his left and right hands to play both parts simultaneously.

**Jim Nollman** · Feb-12-2009, 12:52pm

Allen, I don't recall seeing you at the Club 47 that night when Doc Watson blew away all the Boston townies. Or was I there the next year? Memories of that time and place would make a stirring conversation between us if we ever get an opportunity to meet.

**Tim** · Feb-12-2009, 12:52pm

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

So why is someone playing the mandolin extremely well, with a fascinating overall concept and superior technique, "bad news"?

You are over thinking this one.

**allenhopkins** · Feb-12-2009, 3:12pm

Tim –– well, you may be right. But the talk about "intimidation" and "cutting fingers off" etc. sort of bugged me. There is always someone who plays better, faster, cleaner, more imaginatively, more financially successfully, whatever. Doesn't make me feel inferior, intimidated, prone to self-mutilation.

In a way, I get more negative feelings when I see someone who, IMHO, plays below my skill level, but garners more rewards and adulation. If Evan M demonstrates genius on the mandolin, I think that's wonderful. If I stumble through Blackberry Blossom, generating more clams than Legal Seafoods, my bad; but I enjoyed taking a shot at it, and my approximation of semi-competence doesn't generate a load of angst.

Great mandolin playing is "good news," in my book. The fact that I can't emulate it -- well, I can face that with equanimity.

**Doug Hoople** · Feb-12-2009, 3:40pm

Originally Posted by OldGrapePat

I believe I've seen that before, and it is amazing. Great playing, beautiful arrangement, and beautiful song. But, I had the same thought as one of the previous posters....Gasp! Is he planting his pinkie? Must be an optical illusion....End of discussion for me (I'm an incurable pinkie planter).

Evan's also got one of the worst, most cramped-looking grips for his pick, and he teaches it to his students. Doesn't seem to hurt him or them, though!

**Tim2723** · Feb-12-2009, 5:11pm

Originally Posted by Jim MacDaniel

I've always found it amazing that Evan can A) think in terms of both the lead and accompaniment parts at the same time, and B) then get his left and right hands to play both parts simultaneously.

Piano players do that all the time. But on the mandolin it's still something special. I love Evan's playing.